While I realize this wasn't necessarily the original point, Paul's votes will probably be split, leaning to the right with voter turnout. The younger ones will primarily move to Obama where as the older supporters will move towards McCain. Obviously it wont matter either way considering the states that these votes will come from.
If the republican or democratic candidate isn't satisfactory enough to win those fringe votes, I don't see the issue. Some are totally unsatisfied with the two parties and are free to vote as they will. If McCain isn't a strong enough candidate to win those fringe votes he doesn't deserve them.
I don't get though. :huh: Why throw away a vote a person who has zero chance of being elected. It seems like you would want to at least determine which one of the two candidates that do stand a chance best represents the direction you want our country to go...and vote for him. Personally, I'm voting against Obama just as much as I'm voting for McCain.
Probably because those 2 directions are both TERRIBLE. I cannot and will not take my vote lightly. I wouldn't even be able to look at myself in the mirror if I voted for either McCain or Obama in 10,15,20 years from now. That being said if I didn't have any integrity in myself then I would probably vote for Obama. If you want to know why then I'll let you know.
If the difference between options is small, you're fooling yourself if you believe the small difference you are voting for will do much to benefit the country. In most cases you're probably splitting hairs. The Republican party has significantly strayed from honesty and conservative values, IMO. A vote, and further, getting involved, for a third party candidate sends a message to both parties that the issues of that third party are important and should be taken seriously. Paul got the attention of many Republicans (and probably democrats) with his campaign. If Paul were able to offer less hypothetical and heady responses I imagine many more folks would have taken him seriously. A lot of what he stands for is right. I disagree with Obama on quite a lot, but I will be voting for him unless McCain changes his tune on foreign relations. I think that one subject is very serious. If Bush would have done a better job I'd probably be voting third party. Our votes will cancel each other out, so you'd being doing your country a service if you could convert me to McCain, and visa versa.
I think that voting for a third party is a much better statement against the establishment than the alternatives (voting for the lesser of two evils, or not voting at all). I probably would be voting for a 3rd party had Palin not been chosen for the McCain's VP.
